GETTING A SALES JOB

There’s a lot more to finding the perfect sales job than comparing salaries but it’s an important factor that undoubtedly merits serious consideration.

The salary you can expect to command will, of course, depend on your experience and location, as well as the field in which you have chosen to specialise. 

Broadly speaking, entry level sales jobs in Technology have a starting base salary of around $50,000 – $55,000 + Super with the potential to earn up to $100,000 as an OTE (on target earnings). As you progress in seniority, the base salary increases and so does the earning potential. 

For example, an Account Exec with a proven track record in enterprise level sales can expect a base salary of anything between $130,000 – $180,000 + Super with the potential to earn in excess of $300,000 p.a. Should they exceed their sales targets.

Sales jobs in tech that are focused on bringing in new business will generally offer the opportunity to earn more commission than Account Manager jobs which will generally have a smaller element of commission. Typically the split between the base salary and commission element in Account Manager jobs is 80/20. In other words, if your base salary is $80,000 + Super as an Account Manager your OTE will be approximately $100,000 + Super.

Before you upload your resume to our system, take a few minutes to think about whether it accurately portrays everything you have to offer prospective employers and make sure it is fine-tuned to focus on the skills you possess that are specifically relevant to sales jobs. As excellent written communication skills are a prerequisite for any sales jobs — Australia based or worldwide – you should ensure there are absolutely no spelling or grammatical errors. You should also make sure that it reads well from start to finish and contains all your sales achievements such as awards that you have won, large accounts that you have brought in and revenue generated against your targets.

A well-written, error-free resume is a good start but you’ll need to do more than just check your spelling and grammar if you want to have a shot at the best sales opportunities Australia has to offer. In addition to proofreading your resume carefully, identify all the core skills you possess that make you an outstanding candidate for sales positions in your chosen industry. Below are some of the key skills you should be sure to mention.

Negotiating — All good sales representatives and managers need to possess above average negotiating skills. In addition to outlining the specific skills and techniques you have learned, you should cite examples of how you have used these skills and techniques to achieve favourable outcomes in previous negotiations.

Relationship building and management — Another key skill that you should be able to illustrate in your resume when applying for sales jobs in Australia is the ability to build lasting relationships with people from diverse backgrounds. Examples from both your personal and professional life can be used to demonstrate your prowess in this area.

Product knowledge — This should be specific to your field and should cover the extent of your knowledge of all products that you have dealt with in the past. If you can also demonstrate an ability to learn new products quickly and effectively, this will help to make you more attractive to employers in all industries and geographical locations.

Listening skills — It’s quite difficult to illustrate your listening skills in a resume but as they are so important for any type of sales job, it’s worth putting some effort into doing so. If you’ve ever spent any time staffing help lines or handling customer complaints, you can mention these experiences as evidence of your listening skills.

Presentation skills — Your ability to present products and services in a way that makes it clear what they have to offer prospective customers and highlights all the benefits they provide is very important. Be sure to mention any experience you have in this area, focusing on the successes you have achieved through your presentation skills.

Prospecting and lead generation — This won’t be relevant for every job in sales you may wish to apply for but for certain positions it is a crucial skill. If you’re interested in landing a job that involves prospecting for new customers, you must include details of relevant experience in your resume.

Closing skills — Whatever industry you specialise in and whatever positions you are interested in, closing skills are sure to be required. They may be exercised less often in managerial positions but they will still be expected so be sure to include adequate evidence of your closing skills in your resume.

There are many more skills you could mention but those listed above will get you off to a great start when you rewrite your resume.

It’s not possible to prepare for every question you may face when being interviewed for sales opportunities in Australia as not all employers follow exactly the same procedures. However, many of the questions you will be asked are likely to be those that are commonly used in interviews for sales jobs across the country so it’s worth researching them beforehand. Some of the most commonly asked questions in sales interviews include the following:

Have you consistently met your sales targets in the past? — If you can honestly answer yes to this question, be prepared to expand on your answer during the interview, giving as many specific examples of past successes as possible. If you have not always met your previous sales targets, try to provide meaningful explanations as to why not and make sure they are positive rather than negative. For example: if you missed your targets when you first started working in sales but have subsequently been very successful, you can clearly demonstrate an improving performance.

What do you know about our organisation? — Many candidates focus so much on preparing for questions about themselves that they forget one of the most important questions they are likely to be asked: what do they know about the company they are interviewing for? Whether you’re applying for sales jobs in Australia, NZ or anywhere else in the world, you must research the companies you apply to before you attend an interview. Failure to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the organisation you hope to work for will not go down well as it shows a lack of preparation and, even worse, a lack of interest in anything other than yourself.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your sales career to date and how did you overcome it? — With this type of question, interviewers are looking for specific examples of difficult challenges you have encountered and overcome. They want to know how adaptable you are, whether you’re capable of working under pressure and how you respond when you find yourself in difficult or unfamiliar situations. The ability to think on your feet and draw on all your skills and experience in challenging situations is crucial for anyone who wishes to have a successful career in sales.

What do you like least about selling? — This type of question can catch you off guard if you’re not prepared for it. If you claim that you love the entire process, you may come across as someone who’s not completely honest. On the other hand, if you voice your dislike for a certain aspect of sales jobs too strongly, you may go too far the other way and convince your interviewer that you’re not really cut out for such positions. It’s best to strike a balance and explain the tactics you use to make the least pleasant part of the process more enjoyable.

These are just a few examples of the questions you are likely to face when being interviewed for sales jobs in Australia. There are many more so be sure to research diligently.

Interviews for sales positions in Australia are not all about answering questions. In order to land your dream job, you’ll need to develop a range of interview techniques that ensure you make the best impression possible under all circumstances.

Study the job description carefully — You need to make sure that you are intimately familiar with every aspect of the sales jobs you are being interviewed for. After noting all of the requirements carefully, think of ways in which you can demonstrate how you are able to meet each one. If, for example, lead generation features prominently in a job description, make sure you are ready with examples of your success in this area when you attend the interview.

Prepare your own questions — In addition to preparing answers to the questions you are most likely to be asked, don’t forget to prepare a few of your own questions too.

Consider professional sales coaching — Not only will a professional coach be able to help you improve your sales and interview performance, the very fact you are willing to invest in your career will impress potential employers as well. Wherever you apply for sales jobs (Australia, NZ or globally), a demonstrable commitment to your sales career is guaranteed to be appreciated by companies that are looking for the very best performers.

Make a great first impression — You’re sure to have heard this advice a thousand times before but it’s so important that no guide to interview techniques would be complete without mentioning it. By dressing well, adopting confident body language and a pleasant attitude, you can ensure you make a good first impression and avoid failing your interview before it’s even started.